The Hartsfield Family Quilt Collection, dating from the time of slavery, will be on display in the virtual Gallery at Tacoma Community College January 14-February 5 Online in The Gallery at TCC.
The 12 quilts that comprise the Hartsfield Collection were made by four different seamstresses from the Hartsfield family from the 1850s to the 1920s, starting with a woman named “Miss Molly,” who was born into slavery around 1840. Named after Lena Hartsfield, who was born in the 1880s and preserved the quilts into the 20th century, the collection is currently preserved by Jim Tharpe, who wrote an essay about its history and shares the quilts with a larger audience.
The Hartsfield family created the quilts and kept them in repair to preserve history and strengthen multigenerational ties within the family. In his essay, Tharpe says that households involved in the Underground Railroad also passed along information to escaping slaves using “quilt codes” since quilts could be displayed without raising suspicion. The exhibit includes patterns that may have been used along with descriptions of what different patterns signified.
“The twelve quilts were made by family members who were either slaves or children of slaves,” said Tharpe in his essay about the collection. “Unfortunately, over the years many quilts were lost or discarded by family members not wanting to be reminded of their slave and Jim Crow era pasts. I am forever thankful to those ancestors who thought differently and protected these quilts until they came into my possession.”
Gail says
Wonderful. The quilts are a beautiful way to preserve history.
Roberta Benvin says
Unfortunately, TCC is helping to perpetuate a myth that been debunked by quilt historians and UGRR historians. The majority of the quilts (if not all) in the exhibit were constructed in the 1930-50’s. How do I know? Because I have spent the past 40 years studying fabrics and recognize the decades in which they appeared. The presenter of this exhibit has a lot more research to do before he can claim that there is such a thing as a Code Quilt.
Dr. Lori Verderame says
Mr. Tharpe’s family quilts are a fascinating historical study featuring objects that have been lovingly made and beautifully preserved. This exhibition and his book tell the story of ancestry, history, hope and methods to overcome adversity. Thanks to Mr. Tharpe and the Gallery at TCC for hosting this important and interesting exhibtion. It is a shame that in the current environment the quilts cannot be exhibited in the physical gallery space however Mr. Tharpe’s book is a must read highlighting culture and community.